It used to be that you could seemingly go on a week-long vacation
while waiting for a three-dimension scene to render, but
fortunately there have been many advancements in software. A
perfect example of such improvements is Swift 3D from Electric
Rain.
Rendering speed is very quick for a single object, although
animation rendering can take longer because of the volume
involved. While rendering speed is important, it isn't the only
great feature Swift 3D has to offer.
Another great feature is the fact that unlike most 3D programs,
Swift 3D does not use those annoying wire frames to build
objects. In Swift 3D, users type in the text they wish and
immediately apply a color to it.
In fact, should a user have an object already made — and it
is .eps, .ai, .dxf, or .dxb format — it can be imported
into the program.
While the program provides the user with many options for shapes to
start with, the program is definitely better to use with
symmetrical shapes. That isn't to say it can't be done, but it
does become much more difficult.
However, should the user select a shape from the top of the
program screen, it appears in the scene in full skin, ready to be
altered as needed.
Further, when the scene is finished, Swift 3D can export in
Flash's .swf format as well as .eps, .ai, and .svg, which makes
it about as easy as it gets to create Flash scenes with a 3D
program.
One area of complaint is that it only allows users to apply one
color per object, but that negative is countered by the program's
ability to enhance cartoon fills and gradient shading.
The program has easy to use extrusion, bezier, and lathe tools.
Coloring objects is as easy as selecting a model at the bottom
of the screen and dragging and dropping the color onto the
created object. The program also allows for numerical
positioning, object scaling, and varying lighting effects.
Like many such programs, Swift 3D providers the users with multiple
views, and windows are marked so that they can see their creation
from all angles.
Other features worth mentioning include the program's ability to
use animated materials to allow for color morphing, the ability
to preview and edit complete animations before exporting them,
and the program's automatic optimization of files before
exporting.
The program isn't for the old 386 computers for sure. In fact, it
requires a 200 MHz Pentium (with 64 MB of RAM) or Power PC (with
96 MB of Ram). Macintosh users need OS 8.1 or higher.
Swift 3D is designed to create 3D content for
Flash and
Adobe Illustrator, but the difference in it and many such
programs is that it is highly usable even without previous
experience, and it is easy and useful enough to create excellent
Web content.
Swift 3D's learning curve is not as extreme as many such
programs, with users able to begin creating meaningful objects in
about 90 minutes, perhaps less if they use the tutorial provided
in the programs user guide.
With the program's speed and quality combined, it is a sure bet
for those needing 3D animation.
Rendering speed is very quick for a single object, although
animation rendering can take longer because of the volume
involved. While rendering speed is important, it isn't the only
great feature Swift 3D has to offer.